The Daily Breeze article “Pollution, Airspace, Traffic Concerns Stall NFL Stadium Bids as Final Decision Looms” (Nov. 28, 2015) was highly informative regarding the issues challenging the stadium projects in both cities. I highly commend the Breeze for such a detailed and well-sourced analysis of both projects. As the president of the Inglewood Area Airport Chamber of Commerce, I take issue, however, with the 18th paragraph which reads in part:

“Since then, the two economically depressed cities have been competing for attention from fans and team owners to get the big-ticket stadium inside their limits … .”

If anything, the people who actually work with the city of Inglewood on a daily basis, from business leaders large and small to public safety first responders, will tell you that this town is no longer economically depressed but is instead economically ascendant. Over the past four years it has transformed into a job-creating, city revenue-generating metropolis. There have been over 130 new business starts in Inglewood in 2015 alone, an all-time record.

This business-boosting environment is, in large part, responsible for Inglewood’s reduced crime rate (greater police funding) and skyrocketing housing values — all of which means a better quality of life now and into the future for families. That quality of life includes a reduced local unemployment rate with over 600 newly employed residents since January 2014. Moody’s increased the city’s bond rating in February 2015.

When Mayor James T. Butts took office the city had an $18 million-plus structural deficit and was headed for bankruptcy. After four consecutive financially balanced budgets which included right-sizing the work force and dealing aggressively by significantly reducing massive unfunded benefit liabilities (including a $330 million unfunded liability for retiree lifetime medical benefits), the city is also experiencing the lowest four consecutive years of recorded crime in history. This includes a year-to-date 50 percent reduction in homicides from a multi-year rate that was already at historic lows. This year is days away from being the lowest year on record for this crime.

Today’s Inglewood leaders — led by Mayor Butts — are the reason why financial leaders nationwide are coming home. National powerhouses like Madison Square Garden were first with The Forum revival — now the No. 1 concert venue in Southern California. St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke and partners followed with plans to invest $1.7 billion of their own money in the privately-funded, now shovel-ready NFL stadium on the Hollywood Park site. Architectural plans and construction drawings are already complete. It should be noted that a brand new casino is under construction and a companion $2 billion mixed-use development will be constructed following the casino, whether or not the NFL grants relocation to Inglewood.

The city has resurrected its residential sound insulation program and it is now the No. 1 program in the country in completed construction annually per capita, insulating over 2,000 homes in the past 12 months. By the sunset of the program, every eligible resident who has responded to invitations will receive sound insulation.

Meanwhile, the city of Inglewood has resurfaced more miles of roadway in the past three years than the prior 10 put together.

Perhaps that’s why Mayor Butts was re-elected with an incredible 83 percent of the vote in November 2014. In April, City Councilman Eloy Morales was re-elected with 89 percent of the vote. Inglewood leadership has consistently produced results for its residents.

Let’s get all the facts on the table.

Marc T. Little is an attorney, president of the Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, and chief executive officer of Champions for Progress Inc., an affiliate of Faithful Central Bible Church.